Wildernesse House
Georgian mansion revived as luxury accommodation
- Location
- London & South East
- Client
- Private Client
- Awards
- Green Apple Environment for Beautiful Buildings: Gold Award 2019
- Shortlist
- RICS South East: Regeneration 2019
- RICS South East: Residential 2019
Set in Kent’s picturesque countryside, Wildernesse House is part of the 24-acre historic Wildernesse Estate, renowned for its magnificent period houses and ancient woodland.
Purcell transformed the Grade II-listed Georgian building into 23 high-end, luxury apartments with the addition of cutting-edge spa facilities, wellness areas and communal spaces.
Restoration of the Great Hall
Purcell’s transformation of the Grade II-listed Wildernesse House, Sevenoaks, into high-end later living apartments provides a level of service for residents reflecting that of a traditional country estate, including new spa facilities and luxurious communal spaces. Our team transformed the hall into a luxurious shared space for residents featuring a deluxe lounge and library. Great care was taken to subdivide the building into apartments with the minimum possible intervention.
As part of the project, the grand central hall of the house was restored, emphasising the building’s high ceilings, glass dome rooftop, and dramatic central staircase to provide a luxurious shared space for residents.
The project is a testament to Purcell's ability to sympathetically adapt and transform a historic building for compatible modern use, ensuring its regeneration and survival for the future. Wildernesse House is now all set for the next chapter in its fascinating history.
— Graham Epking-Crane, Associate
Interiors and Luxury Spa
Our team reconfigured the house to incorporate a high-end spa featuring a swimming pool, therapy rooms — including steam and salt rooms — and a gym complete with the latest equipment.
Throughout the project, the very highest standard of luxury interiors was provided while maintaining the building’s original features including the ornate decorative plasterwork, fireplaces, joinery, and ironmongery.
Wildernesse House now offers new homes which are modern, spacious and open-plan and maximise natural light. The development also includes the addition of contemporary, accessible elements such as en-suite bathrooms and walk-in wardrobes.
— Graham Epking-Crane, Associate
Restoration
At ground floor level, the existing timber parquet floor finishes within the entrance hall, main staircase, and corridors have been carefully refurbished. Similarly, the mosaic-tiled flooring within the entrance lobby has been retained and repaired.
Throughout the restoration process, original walls and ceilings were stripped of any superfluous recently-added fixtures and fittings and re-tuned back to their original state.
Existing features such as the timber panelling, dado rails, columns, and decorative wall pilasters have been retained and appropriate conservation repair and decorative schemes reintroduced.
Numerous original ornate fireplaces have also been retained, particularly within the principal rooms in the 18th century sections of the house.
Purcell worked closely with PegasusLife, the local Conservation Officer, Planners and Building Control to repair features within the building where possible, without disguising the modern interventions, which (while sensitive to their context) are clearly legible as new additions and which meet regulatory and planning requirements.
